Formerly of Bucks County, on Sunday morning, Nov. 27, 2022, Bruce Howard Hessel peacefully passed away following a seven-year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Bruce, a caring, loving, devoted husband and father was 75 years old and resided in Allison Park, Pa. He was born to Benjamin Hessel and Dorothy (Blum) Hessel on March 16, 1947 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Following graduation from Abraham Lincoln High School, Bruce was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served as a combat medic during the Vietnam War.
Upon returning home, Bruce graduated from Long Island University with a Bachelor of Science in biology; he then pursued his Master of Science degree from Duquesne University, followed by his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Pittsburgh. It was during this time he met and married Karen (McCulloch) Hessel. They started their new married life in Bucks County, Pa., where they raised their daughter Elizabeth (Hessel) Urick.
He is survived by his wife Karen and daughter Elizabeth, son-in-law Matthew Urick, a sister Joan Skurnik of Los Angeles, California/Manhattan and his niece and nephew Jennifer and Jonathan Skurnik along with many relatives in New York and Florida.
Friends will be received at Devlin Funeral Home, 806 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, PA 15229 from 10:30 a.m.-noon Friday, Dec. 2, followed by a private family burial at Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Cemetery.
Donations in Bruce’s name can be made to the University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Disease and Research Center, 3459 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Attn: Leslie Dunn. For a complete obituary, please visit www.devlinfuneralhome.com.
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